1989 Dodge Dakota Problems
- Complaints
- 63filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 124,990miles, 6 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 3campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 17 mpgcombined, 3.9L 6-cyl RWD · 15 city / 20 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1989 Dodge Dakota (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Complaints for this model year center on the steering gear mounting area, where owners describe cracked frame attachments or broken mounting bolts and, in some cases, a partial loss of steering control. Many of those filings concern recall 96V094000 and describe waiting for parts or repeat problems after the repair. The rest of the sample covers transmission/gear-selection complaints and older-truck wear items such as brake lines, cooling components and electrical faults, mostly on high-mileage vehicles.
- Steering
Steering gear separates from frame (mounting bolts/frame
- 18 complaints (29%)
- median 209,000 mi at 22.9 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2011
Owners describe the steering gear or rack coming loose from the frame or crossmember, in some cases while turning at low speed and in others at highway speed, with the wheel becoming hard or impossible to steer. Several complaints state that bolts were found broken or that the frame cracked at the attachment point. Many filings are about recall 96V094000: owners report dealers lacking parts or a welder, repairs taking weeks, repeat loosening after the work, and at least one owner being told the truck was outside the recall or the repair period. Reported across a wide mileage range, from vehicles with no mileage given to one at about 209,000 miles, often during turning or backing maneuvers.
Recall 96V094000Recall 01V232000
What to check: Ask whether recall 96V094000 was completed and keep the paperwork; inspect the frame around the steering gear attachment and the mounting bolts for cracks, elongation or fresh weld repairs, and have a shop check them before driving.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Had received recall notice (#96v094000) & called dealer. Took vehicle in on appointment date. Was told vehicle ready & to take it home. Heard a pop a few hours later. Took it back on aug. 7, 1997 to have it repaired again. Was charged for labor done to vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #816121, filed 1997-08“Steering gear attachment: has taken vehicle in for repairs since nov. And they don't have the parts. Took to two different dealers, one didn't have the arc welder , and the other dealer didn't have parts and said that he would not be getting them.”
NHTSA complaint #809198, filed 1997-02 - Transmission and drivetrain
Transmission slips out of Park / harsh 4WD engagement
Mentioned in 5 of 29 sampled complaints
Several complaints describe the truck not holding in Park, rolling backwards on an incline or moving on its own while idling, and one owner reports a jerking engagement when shifting the floor lever from 4H to 2H that pulls the steering wheel to one side. Another filing describes a rear driveshaft or rear-end failure with clicking and clunking before the truck became undriveable. One owner noted a gear-position indicator recall that their vehicle was not covered by. Reported from vehicles with no mileage listed up to roughly 145,000 miles, often when parked on a slope or shifting between drive modes.
What to check: On a test drive, park on a slight incline and confirm the truck holds; check that the lever engages each position firmly and listen for clunks from the rear driveline when shifting between 2H and 4H.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“When switching from 4h to 2h on 89 Dodge Dakota on floor shifter it takes a few minutes to engage and when it does it jars the vehicle to a side jerking the steering wheel to the right suddenly.”
NHTSA complaint #10184459, filed 2007-03, 105,980 miles“Vehicle jumped out of park to reverse by itself and ran over and killed the owner.same occurrence last fall and the vehicle by itself hit a bldg.details.”
NHTSA complaint #986119, filed 1996-06
Buying note. On a truck of this age, the steering gear mounting area and the brake lines are the two things worth inspecting closely before purchase, and recall paperwork for 96V094000 is worth asking for. Transmission park engagement and driveline noises are also worth checking on a test drive.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 29 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 63 consumer complaints for the 1989 Dodge Dakota. 6 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 124,990 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 4 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Steering19 30%
- Brakes8 13%
- Engine cooling8 13%
- Electrical system4 6.3%
- Body and structure4 6.3%
- Tires4 6.3%
- Fuel system3 4.8%
- Seat belts3 4.8%
- Equipment2 3.2%
Also reported: Other or unknown (1), Suspension (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1), Wheels (1).
Example complaints
Steering: “The contact owns a 1989 Dodge Dakota. The contact was driving 50 MPH when the power steering malfunctioned which prevented the contact from steering the vehicle in the right direction. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who diagnosed that the bolts on the rack and pinion were cracked. As a result, the rack and pinion would need to be replaced. The dealer was contacted who advised that the vehicle had exceeded the statute of limitations to receive repairs under NHTSA campaign id number: 96v094000 steering:gear box (other than rack and pinion). …”
NHTSA complaint #10425814, filed 2011-09, 209,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “The contact stated while placing the vehicle into park, the gear shifts into reverse or if parked on an incline will roll down a hill. The transmission will not properly lock into the parking gear. No examination or repairs were made. There was a NHTSA recall # 00v106000 regarding powertrain: automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl). The vehicle was not included in the recall due to the VIN.”
NHTSA complaint #10171732, filed 2006-10, 144,000 milesBrakes: “Abs brakes, while driving vehicle front left side brake line line blew out. Had to change right side also. Once brake line has blown ABS becomes uneffective.”
NHTSA complaint #813034, filed 1997-06Engine cooling: “I was driving down 1994 and the engine compartment caused a huge fire. Melting all the wiring and destroying the truck. The detroit firedepartment was called and the truck is a total loss. My insurance company will not pay for it because I had basic coverage. I did not know it was a recall. I was never contacted. I bought the car in 1993 after the recall. I bought it from a dealer you would think they would have fixed it. Luckily the police and fire were close and they put it out before it blew up. The freeway was closed for a while after this happened. …”
NHTSA complaint #10096295, filed 2004-10, 167,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
0% of the 6 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 100,000 and 167,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1989 Dodge Dakota version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota Pickup 2WD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 19 | 26 | 22 | $3,050 |
| Dakota Pickup 2WD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 18 | 24 | 20 | $3,350 |
| Dakota Pickup 2WD | 3.9L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 15 | 20 | 17 | $3,950 |
| Dakota Pickup 2WD | 3.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 14 | 18 | 15 | $4,450 |
| Dakota Pickup 2WD | 5.2L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 12 | 16 | 14 | $4,800 |
| Dakota Pickup 4WD | 3.9L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 14 | 18 | 15 | $4,450 |
| Dakota Pickup 4WD | 3.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 13 | 17 | 14 | $4,800 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 01V232000Jul 6, 2001Steering › Gear box (other than rack and pinion)Covers: Dodge Dakota 1989–1990
Vehicle description: 4x2 pickup truck convertibles equipped with v6 engines (built from november 1988 - june 1990) and 4x2 pickup trucks equipped with the shelby package (built october 1988 - june 1989). The frame can crack at the steering gear attachment…
- 96V094000Jun 13, 1996Steering › Gear box (other than rack and pinion)Covers: Dodge Dakota 1988–1990
The frame can crack at the steering gear attachment and/or the steering gear mounting bolts can fracture.
- 89V237000Dec 27, 1989Engine and engine cooling › EngineCovers: Dodge Dakota 1989–1990, Plymouth Voyager 1989–1990, Dodge Shadow 1989–1990 +12 more
The engine valve cover gasket may dislocate and allow an engine oil leak at the gasket.
Recall details for the 1989 Dodge Dakota → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1989 Dodge Dakota.
Other model years of the Dodge Dakota
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 44 | 42,000 | 6 | — | 17 | 64 · Typical | Falling |
| 2010 | 35 | 49,900 | 7 | — | 17 | 31 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2009 | 18 | 44,000 | 5 | — | 17 | — | Falling |
| 2008 | 91 | 53,433 | 2 | — | 17 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2007 | 145 | 50,196 | 4 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 285 | 55,000 | 5 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2005 | 470 | 58,630 | 6 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 206 | 51,000 | 1 | — | 17 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 296 | 34,495 | 4 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 678 | 39,100 | 5 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 678 | 50,000 | 7 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 806 | 52,000 | 5 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 641 | 60,000 | 4 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 545 | 68,500 | 5 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1997 | 446 | 72,417 | 5 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 189 | 88,750 | 1 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 208 | 98,425 | 0 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1994 | 166 | 120,000 | 3 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 134 | 80,000 | 1 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 216 | 112,500 | 1 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1991 | 128 | 75,000 | 4 | — | 17 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 63 | — | 3 | — | 17 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 63 | 124,990 | 3 | — | 17 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 55 | 83,025 | 3 | — | 17 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 20 | 69,000 | 2 | — | 18 | — | Stable |
All Dodge Dakota model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Dodge Dakota?
Complaints for this model year center on the steering gear mounting area, where owners describe cracked frame attachments or broken mounting bolts and, in some cases, a partial loss of steering control. The issues reported most often: Steering gear separates from frame (mounting bolts/frame; Transmission slips out of Park / harsh 4WD engagement.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1989 Dodge Dakota have?
NHTSA recorded 63 consumer complaints for the 1989 Dodge Dakota as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1989 Dodge Dakota is reported most often?
Steering is named most often, in 19 complaints (30% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 12.
Has the 1989 Dodge Dakota been recalled?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1989 Dodge Dakota get?
The EPA rates the 1989 Dodge Dakota (Dakota Pickup 2WD, 3.9L 6-cyl) at 17 mpg combined, 15 city and 20 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,950 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1989 Dodge Dakota reported?
Among the 6 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 124,990 miles and the middle half falls between 100,000 and 167,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.